Anxiety states of parents raising children with autism spectrum disorders: a socio-psychological analysis

Abstract

The article examines the anxiety state of parents raising children with autism spectrum disorders within the framework of socio-psychological analysis. The relevance of the study is обусловлена the increasing number of children with ASD and the need to investigate the psychological condition of parents experiencing prolonged emotional stress associated with child-rearing and the social adaptation of the child. The purpose of the study was to identify the characteristics of anxiety manifestations among parents of children with ASD and to determine the socio-psychological factors influencing anxiety levels.

The study employed an author-designed questionnaire aimed at examining the socio-demographic and psychological characteristics of families, as well as V.V. Boyko’s «Express Diagnostics of the Tendency toward Unmotivated Anxiety» methodology. The study involved 118 parents raising children with ASD. The empirical findings revealed that 38% of parents demonstrated a high level of unmotivated anxiety. The main determinant of anxiety is fear related to the child’s future social adaptation. In addition, parents’ concerns about their possible inability to fully fulfill their parental responsibilities contribute to an increase in the level of latent anxiety. In addition, mothers showed significantly higher anxiety levels related to raising and caring for a child with ASD compared to fathers. The findings indicate the necessity of developing a comprehensive psychological support program aimed at reducing anxiety and improving the psychological well-being of families raising children with ASD.